Shak

A draw is no good to Arsenal, surely? Even if they win their last four they're very unlikely to catch City but draws are certainly not going to get it done.

Not sure he'll get a game ahead of Isak and Vitor Roque tbf.

Being Irish I'm very much hoping Evan Ferguson is going to be that top class striker for them

If we wrapped up a CL place and going into the last day Man U and Liverpool were fighting for the last spot... Who would you be hoping misses out?

"Aye Luke, that's the target. Please don't tell anyone though, we don't want that getting out."

The least convincing "sorry to be that guy" I've seen in a while Have to impressed with how consistently wrong he is about so much without ever even slightly accepting that he basically is being told and knows fuck all reliable.

Feels like he might stretch the wage structure.

Raphinha would be an incredible get this summer. We were linked with him quite a bit last year as I recall, once Barca wanted him it was obviously never happening but seems things have changed. Absolutely perfect for the right side of our front three. Think we sorely lack an attacker who can pick a quality pass in the final third and he'd give us that while also having the pace and dribbling ability you also want from a wide man. Experienced playing a high pressing style too. Think if it's at all feasible we'll go all in on trying to make it happen. Raphinha, Roque, Rice and some amazing LB whose name starts with R would be the kind of themed summer signing spree I could get behind.

Absolutely heartbroken someone has a Brass Eye reference in already.

Think people are getting a bit carried away with how much of an absolute pressmentalist they expect all our players to be, I must say Do think it is and will rightly continue to be a huge part of how we play but you do need a bit of variety in your squad. We're sorely lacking an attacking player who can regularly play a killer ball in the final third, something that is going to be more and more necessary as we continue to improve and more and more sides set themselves up to defend deep against us. If we sign Maddison it's not going to be like we're building the team around him. He's just a type of player we don't really have who'll give us some variety in how we can set up.

Aye, my point was that I think Maddison would probably be best used in the front three so I'm not sure what you're disagreeing with?

I'm not sure there are many players who fit the bill in this regard, like I would be super intrigued to see him in Murphy's current role. Think he and Trippier linking up would be quality. Maddison was poor tonight but thought a lot of his better work came when he drifted out to that side. If he did come in I wonder if he'll play one of the wide roles quite a bit. Not sure there's enough pace and power in a three man CM with Bruno and Maddison. My inclination would be to leave Bruno as the base of the midfield, pulling a the strings. Then stick two absolute bags of energy either side of him. Maddison doesn't fit the bill in this regard.

Tell Vitor Roque he can be the pageboy if he comes here.

Aye, that went from being a relegation scrap for the ages to just dull at the end.

Feels like a lower league game but loads of players on the field capable of some genuine quality. Frantic, disorganised and absolutely gripping.

Stifler man, he'll either rule the world one day or cause its demise.

Are people genuinely suggesting a shite penalty means Maddison wouldn't be a good signing?

Well he won't be taking penalties here Maddison with a good job winning the ball and then springing the counter attack though, to be fair.

Was Matheus Franca we were linked with quite a bit in January.

Probably in and around that, aye. Quite a lot of it in add-ons on top of an initial fee. That's a kind of price range we've shown a willingness to operate in though so don't think it's out of reach at all.

He'd make A LOT of sense as an addition to our squad if Howe thinks Isak playing from the left is something that we want to do going forward. Wilson and Roque rotating at CF, allows Wilson to avoid playing too many minutes and means that we're not expecting an 18 year old to come in and immediately be the main man. Obviously we also have the option to play Isak there so we suddenly have three quality CF options. Would be interesting to see how we'd tweak the setup, if at all. I think you'd want to give Isak a little less to do defensively than the wingers do now, obviously our front players need to press but I mean in terms of tracking full backs and such.

Snide little comments at Mason as well. Truly shown everyone who he really is this season.

I mean...

To be fair on the GD if we do finish level on points they'll probably get very close to us. Rarely take a point at home but right now I think I'd take it next week against Arsenal. Looking at those last four fixtures six points seems far more comfortable than seven. Could be a couple of scrappy games in there, wouldn't be shocked to see some draws.